ABOUT BLUELINE
History & Mission
Blueline: A Literary Magazine Dedicated to the Spirit of the Adirondacks began in the fall of 1979 as an outgrowth of an extension course in English Composition that Alice Wolf Gilborn taught at North Country Community College. Alice and her group continued to edit and publish the journal at Blue Mountain Lake for nearly a decade.
In 1989, Alice arranged for the journal to move to SUNY Potsdam, where it continued under the Editorship of Anthony O. Tyler. The original Editorial Board was drawn from the English and Modern Languages Departments. In 1999, Rick Henry assumed the role of Editor-in-Chief. Donald McNutt served in that role from 2009 to 2025. Sara Cantwell now serves as Editor-in-Chief and as Site Supervisor for the magazine’s internship program. We were greatly honored to celebrate Blueline’s 45th Anniversary in 2024.
Blueline’s editors remain dedicated to the magazine’s original mission: to publish high-quality stories, essays, and poems about the Adirondacks or other regions similar in spirit and geography. In every volume, Blueline strives to capture the unique character of the Adirondack region, with its varied landscapes and wildlife, its stunning seasonal changes, and its demanding winters. The editors are also committed to promoting writing that interprets the literature and culture of northern New York, New England, and eastern Canada. In recent years, the magazine has included exceptional nonfiction about places as far afield as Alaska and North Dakota, and as close to home as the Hudson Valley.
Blueline has undergone minor alterations since its arrival at SUNY Potsdam. In 1991, we bowed to the reality that we could only publish one issue a year. In 1987, the journal was first published in a perfect binding; prior to that, two shorter issues were published each year.
Our content has gradually broadened to include more work from outside the Adirondacks, although we continue to celebrate the writing of many established Adirondack writers. Blueline also publishes new writers in every volume, welcoming them into the community of artists who focus on the natural world and our relationships within it.
Blueline is sustained financially through our strong subscription base and from sales to regional bookstores. We also greatly rely on generous grants from various donors and agencies, as well as from frequent donation campaigns, local fundraisers, and administrative support from SUNY Potsdam.
Over the last several years, the editors have deepened our alliance with the Lougheed Center for Applied Learning at SUNY Potsdam (LoCAL). Our collaborations with LoCAL support the editors’ commitments to training student interns every semester. At the same time, our excellent internship program greatly contributes to SUNY Potsdam’s mission of providing substantial career preparation for our students. (For more information about Blueline’s internship opportunities, please see our Community page on this website.)
For decades, Blueline’s editors have extended their commitments beyond publishing the magazine and training interns. The editors have also engaged large audiences, nationally and internationally, through a variety of publications and literary endeavors.
These materials will soon be available for review on this website. Stay tuned!